Ice fishermen start season on Muskegon Lake off North Muskegon

NORTH MUSKEGON, MI -- The ice fishing season is just beginning in the greater Muskegon area, as most locations have little or no ice as of New Year's Eve.

The Muskegon Conservation Club, 1921 Lake in North Muskegon is one of the few locations with enough ice, having about two or three inches near the Muskegon Lake shoreline as of Monday afternoon. At least a half dozen anglers were out on the ice as several more prospective fishermen slowly drove by to eye the conditions.

"It's the only ice around," said Jason Hanson, 50, of Twin Lake, who was fishing with friends Rick Huss, 52, of North Muskegon and Chris Bunda, 37, of Spring Lake.

They had been out on the south shore of White Lake in Whitehall over the weekend but conditions deteriorated with windy warmer weather.

"The wind blew everything out (of White Lake)," Hanson added.

For Matthew March, 23, of North Muskegon, the conservation club area was a source of fresh fish for the dinner table. He had been out with his father Tom March for the first time this season on Sunday night and they caught 23 bluegill. Matthew came out by himself the next morning and caught an additional 18.

"I'm coming back for another meal," he said as he worked his fishing line Monday afternoon for his second time out that day. "Being outdoors is nice, you can't always be cooped up inside."